CLACTON Rugby Club’s colts celebrated an outstanding win in their Eastern Counties Cup match against Hadleigh.

They fielded a strong side, mainly made up of under-17s but with the addition of four under-18s, and won 29-21.

Hadleigh broke the deadlock with a try and simple conversion.

However, Clacton hit back with a try in the right-hand corner, scored by Max Swift.

It followed numerous phases in which nearly the whole side were involved at some point.

A very difficult kick out wide was put through the middle of the posts by Tom Nation to bring the scores level at 7-7.

Hadleigh went in front again with another try and conversion.

However, Clacton reduced the arrears after being awarded a penalty, just a few metres from the Hadleigh line.

They organised a brilliantly-worked move, started by Jack Blanes.

The ball passed through the hands of fly-half Darren Garrod and centre Nation and was played across to full-back George Johnson, who scored on the opposite wing.

The conversion was missed but the lead had reduced to 12-10.

Early in the second half, Clacton had a chance to take the lead with a penalty in a very kickable position but elected to go for a line-out, which came to nothing.

It looked a costly mistake when the hosts scored again and converted, taking them into a nine-point lead.

Clacton came back strongly and, after numerous phases of great work, George Barclay powered over the line and Nation converted again to bring them back to 21-19.

With 14 minutes left, Clacton were awarded another penalty and this time chose to kick for goal.

In a strong breeze, Nation set the ball out left of the posts and watched as the wind brought it back across and straight through the uprights.

It meant Clacton were in front for the first time, 22-21.

And they went on to extend that lead with a second try from Swift, following good support, rucking and running from the whole team, and Nation’s simple kick stretched their lead to 29-21.

Despite giving away a penalty for offside, Clacton held out in what was perhaps the club’s best display of colts rugby for some years.

Man-of-the-match went to Timi Olalekan, who stepped up to play in the front row for the first time and did an outstanding job.